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great remorse, that he would not do the like again for a thousand worlds.

"The third way of consultation was by putting a liye cat on a spit; and one of the company asking the person what he was doing? He answered, I roast this cat until his friends answer the question:' and afterwards a big cat, attended with a number of lesser ones, came to relieve the cat and answer the questions: and if the answer were the same with those given to the man in the hide, it was believed to be infallible.

"The next remarkable thing we shall take notice of, is our author's account of the Second Sight, and his remarkable instances to prove it. The Second Sight, he says, is a singular faculty of seeing an otherwise invisible object, without any previous means used by the person that sees it for that end. The vision makes such a lively impression upon the seer, that they neither see nor think of any thing else, as long as it continues, and then they are pensive or jovial, according to the object represented to them. This faculty does not descend lineally, as some have imagined, nor is it acquired by any previous compact, or any way communicable by one to another. The seer knows nothing of it before it appears, and the same object is frequently seen by different persons at a considerable distance from one another. If the object appears early in the morning, it will be accomplished in a few hours afterward; if at noon, it will commonly be accomplished that very day; if in the evening perhaps that night, the later always in accomplishment by weeks, months, and sometimes years, according to the time of night the vision appears. When a shrowd is perceived about one, it is a sure prognostick of death,

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death. The time is judged according to the height of it about the person, for if it be not above the middle, death is not expected for the space of a year, and perhaps some months longer. Persons that are to be married together, are seen standing by one another's sides, and sometimes two or three together, according to the number of wives or husbands. To see a spark of fire fall upon one's arm or breast, is a sign of a dead child to be seen in the arms of those persons. To see a seat empty at the time one sits in it, is a presage for the person's speedy death. Sometimes they are forewarned of death by a cry or voice out of doors, and sometimes they foresee things of such small consequence, as that they are to have fish or flesh in the house, and that such and such persons of no figure will visit them, &c. That if these visions be represented by spirits, it would seem that they sometimes act a ludicrous and comical, as well as a tragical and superstitious part, as any one may see by perusing our author's instances, for which we refer to the book itself, and also for his answers to the objections made against the Second Sight.

"The last thing we shall take notice of is our author's scheme for improving trade by sea and land in those islands, which, according to him, might be the most considerable, particularly for fishing, of any perhaps in the known world, and put in practice with the least trouble and expence, for which we shall also refer the curious on that subject to the book itself. *"

*Having thus, pointed out a full account of the Western Islands of Scotland, I will take the opportunity of calling to the reader's notice a late publication on the Northern Islands, entitled "The History of the Orkney Islands; in which is comprehended an account of their present as well as their ancient state; together with the advantages they possess for several branches

branches of industry, and the means by which they may be improved ; illus trated with an accurate and extensive map of the whole islands, and with plates of some of the most interesting objects they contain. By the Rev. George Barry, D.D. late Minister of Shapinshay,” in one vol. 4to.

In the Monthly Magazine for August, 1865, p. 92, is the following account of the author.

"At Shapinshay, died in July last, the Rev. Dr. George Barry, aged 57. He was a native of Berwickshire, educated in the University of Edinburgh, and was for a short time employed as teacher of the sons of some gentlemen in Orkney, by whose patronage he became second minister of the Royal burgh and ancient cathedral of Kirkwall; from whence about nine years ngo, he was translated to the island and parish of Shapinshay. He has left a widow and nine children, and many respectable friends to mourn his 'death. With fidelity and zeal he discharged the duties of the pastoral office. His statistical account of his two parishes, published by Sir John Sinclair, first rescued his name from that obscurity, in which it was placed by local situation, and drew from an impartial public, a high degree of approbation. Few men paid more attention to the education of youth than Dr. Barry. His own children he taught with all the skill of philosophy, and a 1 the tenderness of parental affection. The same skill, united with no common degree of care, he extended, not only to the youth of his own, but to those of all the different parishes in the county. Sensible of his zeal in this respect, the Society for propagating Christian Knowledge in Scotland, upwards of five years ago, chose him one of their members, and gave him a superintendance over their schools in Orkney. Soon after, the University of Edinburgh conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Divinity. For several years past Dr. Barry employed his leisure hours in composing a civil and natural history of all the sixty-seven Islands of Orkney, comprehending an account of their original population, their ancient history, while a separate independent principality, whose warlike princes, in alliance with Norway and Denmark, ranked with those of Europe; and also their present condition and the means by which they may be improved. This history was published two months ago, in Edinburgh, in one large quarto volume, illustrated by a map of all the isles, friths, and harbours, and also with twelve elegant plates of the most grand and interesting objects of antiquity. From the testimony of several of the most respectable and learned gentlemen in Scotland it is be lieved, that this curious history of one of the most sequestered provinces of Britain, will, from the depth of its research, the accuracy of the narrative, and the classical elegance of its composition, transmit the name of its author. bo future ages with some degree of celebrity."

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ART,

ART. XII. Verses expressive of the author's regret, at not having sufficiently cultivated poetry in the proper season of youth.

The days that are past, and for years have been o'er,

I wish I could seem by my song to restore!

Let me bring back the hours when Hope danc'd in my

eye;

And heav'd in my bosom the rapturous sigh !

I seize the lov'd lyre: O how tremble its strings:
Hark! What are the notes that so faintly it rings!

"'Tis in vain: the gay visions that beam'd in thy sight;
The rich hues, that arrayed every scene in delight,
"Are vanish'd; and coldly thy hand will be laid
"On my chords, on which exquisite sounds were once

made.

"Wild dreams of young Fancy that swell'd thy full

breast,

"Forms of beauty angelic that haunted thy rest, "To thy chill sober fingers no longer give fire, "Thy bosom's dull feelings no longer inspire:

Too idly thy moments of youth didst thou lose; "Too seldom attendedst the voice of the Muse: "Destroy'd is the charm now; and broken the spell; "No dances of fairies now hast thou to tell;

"But gloomy the hues are Experience has wrought, "And severe is Truth's lore, which Time's circuit has taught.

"O hadst thou but breath'd on my tremulons breast, "When young Rapture thy fancy all-glowing possest; "Perchance to far ages our names had gone down, "And thy lyre might have gain'd thee immortal renown, "It is past: now all tuneless decay my sad strings; "And faint is the thought, in thy bosom that springs!

"O have

"O have not thy hopes been in sorrow all drown'd;
"And Despair's withering shadows envelop'd thee round?
"Then withdraw thy rash hand: nor, with feeble essay,
"Again thy lost power, and vain efforts betray !"
I submit, O thou Nymph of my earliest delight,
Whom, tho' often I treated with many a slight,
Yet I never forsook; thou art fled; and in scorn
Hast left thy sad votary thine absence to mourn!
Loy'd Muse, I well know my repentance is vain;
The dreams, that are past, I can never regain;

Yet, tho' weak be the glance of thine eye on my heart,
One ray of the joys that are vanish'd impart!

July 21, 1805:

ART. XIII. Desultory observations on the sensibilities and eccentricities of men of genius: with remarks on Poets.

The herd of servile imitators bring every thing into disgrace by affectation and excess. In those departments of literature, which require genius, this is more particularly the case. For a little while the tinsel copier becomes the rage of the public, till the glare of his colours satiates; and then, as the tide suddenly turns, the just fame of the original is drawn back into the vortex, and is sunk in one common ruin. On these occasions every yelping cur joins in echoing the cry of contempt, and some new whim engages the temporary curiosity of the mob.

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There was a time when Rousseau was the idol of the admirers of genius; and all his weaknesses and extravagances were respected as the necessary concomitants of his extraordinary powers. Immediately

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